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SECTION 1
STRUCTURE AND FUNCT IONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY
INTRODUCTION
This section looks at the structure and functions of the oral cavity in somedetail. It includes the development of the oral cavity in utero, the structure of the tooth and its supporting tissues, plus eruption dates for primary and secondary dentitions.
It also includes the functions of the tongue in maintaining oral health andcommon conditions associated with it, plus the composition and role of saliva in keeping the mouth healthy.
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COPYRIG
HTED M
ATERIAL
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Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion, Second Edition. Ann Felton, Alison Chapman and Simon Felton. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chapter 1
The oral cavity in health
LEARN ING OUTCOMES
By the end of this chapter you should be able to:
1. Describe how the oral cavity, jaws and face develop in utero.2. Explain the structure and function of the tissues and fl uid of the oral cavity,
including teeth, supporting structures, the tongue and saliva.3. List primary and secondary dentition eruption dates.
INTRODUCTION
Before oral health educators (OHEs) can deliver dental health messages topatients, and confi dently discuss oral care and disease with them, they will needa basic understanding of how the mouth develops in utero, the anatomy of theoral cavity (Figures 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4) and how the following structuresfunction within it:
● Teeth (including dentition).● Periodontium (the supporting structure of the tooth).● Tongue.● Salivary glands (and saliva).
ORAL EMBRYOLOGY
A basic understanding of the development of the face, oral cavity and jaws inthe embryo and developing foetus will enable the OHE to discuss with patients
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Figure 1.2 A healthy mouth, white person (© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003. Reproduced with permission from Reference 2)
Figure 1.1 Structure of the oral cavity (© Elsevier 2002. Reproduced with permission fromReference 1)
Upper lip
Philtrum
Hard palate
Soft palate
Tongue
Lower lip
Uvula
Palatine tonsil
Fauces (opening)
Uppe
late
ate
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Figure 1.3 A healthy mouth, black person (source: Alison Chapman)
Figure 1.4 A healthy mouth, Asian person (source: Alison Chapman)
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certain oral manifestations of conditions that stem from in utero development (notably cleft lip and palate – Figure 1.5). (An embryo describes the growing organism up to 8 weeks in utero; a foetus describes the growing organismfrom 8 weeks in utero.)
Development of the face
At approximately week 4 in utero (Figure 1.6), the embryo begins to develop fi ve facial processes (projections), which eventually form the face, oral cavity,palate and jaws by week 8 [3]:
● Frontonasal process – forms the forehead, nose and philtrum (groove in upper lip).
● Maxillary process (two projections) – forms the middle face and upper lip.● Mandibular process (two projections) – forms the mandible and lower lip.
Development of the palate and nasal cavities
Week 5The frontonasal and maxillary processes begin to form the nose and maxilla. However, if the nasal and maxillary processes fail to fuse a cleft lip and palate
Figure 1.5 Cleft lip (© iStockphoto.com/April Anderton)
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will result [3]. A cleft lip can be anything from a small notch in the lip (incom-plete cleft) to a wide gap that runs up to the nostril (complete cleft lip). One type of cleft palate (submucous) can be hidden.
There are two types of cleft lip:
● Unilateral – appears on one side of the lip at the philtrum.● Bilateral – occurs on both sides of the lip, both sides of the philtrum.
Week 6By week 6, the primary palate and nasal septum have developed. The septum divides the nasal cavity into two.
Week 8By week 8, the palate is divided into oral and nasal cavities.
Development of the jaws (mandible and maxilla)
Week 6By week 6, a band of dense fi brous tissue (Meckel’s cartilage) forms and provides the structure around which the mandible forms.
Week 7By week 7, bone develops, outlining the body of the mandible, and as the bone grows backwards two secondary cartilages develop; these eventually becomethe condyle and coronoid processes. As the bone grows forward, the two sides are separated by a cartilage called the mandibular symphysis. The two sides will fi nally fuse into one bone approximately 2 years after birth. Upward growth of bone begins along the mandibular arch forming the alveolar process, which will go on to surround the developing tooth germs.
Week 8By week 8, ossifi cation (bone development) of the maxilla begins.
Maxillary processMandibular
process
Fronto-nasalprocess
Eye
Figure 1.6 Facial development at 4 weeks in utero (© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Reproduced owith permission from Reference 3)
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Tooth germ development in the foetus
Tooth germ (tissue mass) develops in three stages known as bud, cap andbell. The developing tooth germ can be affected by the mother’s health (seeChapter 20).
1. Bud – at 8 weeks, clumps of cells form swellings known as enamel organs.Each enamel organ is responsible for the development of a tooth.
2. Cap – the enamel organ continues to grow and by 12 weeks (the late cap stage), cells have formed the inner enamel epithelium and the outer enamel epithelium. Beneath the inner enamel epithelium, the concentration of cellswill eventually become the pulp. The enamel organ is surrounded by a fi brouscapsule (the dental follicle), which will eventually form the periodontalligament.
3. Bell – by 14 weeks, the enamel organ will comprise different layers, which will continue to develop to form the various parts of the tooth.
MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY
The oral cavity is uniquely designed to carry out two main functions:
1. Begin the process of digestion. The cavity’s hard and soft tissues, lubricated by saliva, are designed to withstand the stresses of:– Biting.– Chewing.– Swallowing.
2. Produce speech.
TEETH
Different types of teeth are designed (shaped) to carry out different functions. For example, canines are sharp and pointed for gripping and tearing food, while molars have fl atter surfaces for chewing. Tooth form in relation to function is known as morphology.
Dental nurses and health-care workers may remember from their elemen-tary studies that there are two types of dentition (a term used to describe the type, number and arrangement of natural teeth):t
1. Primary (deciduous) dentition – consisting of 20 baby teeth.2. Secondary (permanent) dentition – consisting of 32 adult teeth.
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Primary dentition
There are three types of deciduous teeth that make up the primary denti-tion (Figure 1.7): incisors, canines and molars (fi rst and second). Table 1.1 details their notation (the code used by the dental profession to identify teeth), approximate eruption dates and functions.
Table 1.1 Primary dentition (notation, approximate eruption dates and functions)
Tooth Notation Approximate eruption date Function
Incisors (a and b) 6–12 months (usually lowers fi rst) Biting
First molars (d) 12–24 months Chewing
Canines (c) 14–20 months Tearing
Second molars (e) 18–30 months Chewing
Lower jaw
Primary dentition
Eruption (months)
Upper jaw
6–8Central incisor
Lateral incisor
Canine
Firstmolarr
Secondmolarr
7–12
16–20
12–16
20–30
18–22
16–24
14–18
7–9
6–8
Figure 1.7 Primary dentition (© Elsevier 2002. Reproduced with permission from Reference 1)
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Secondary dentition
There are four types of permanent teeth that make up the secondary dentition(Figure 1.8): incisors, canines, premolars and molars. Table 1.2 details their notation, approximate exfoliation/eruption dates and functions.
It is important to remember that these exfoliation/eruption dates are onlyapproximate and vary considerably in children and adolescents. The educator should be prepared to answer questions from parents who are worried that their child’s teeth are not erupting at the same age as their friends’ teeth. Parents often do not realise, for example, that no teeth fall out to make room for the fi rst permanent molars (sixes), which appear behind the deciduous molars.
Central incisor
Lateral incisor
Canine
First premolar
Secondpremolar
First molar
Secondmolar
Third molar(wisdom tooth)Upper jaw
Lower jaw
Secondarydentition
17–24
10–14
10–14
9–13
9–14
7–10
7–8
5–8
Eruption(years)
Figure 1.8 Secondary dentition (© Elsevier 2002. Reproduced with permission fromReference 1)
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Structure of the tooth
Tooth structure (Figure 1.9) is complex and comprises several different hardlayers that protect a soft, inner pulp (nerves and blood vessels).
Organic and inorganic tooth matterThe words organic and inorganic are often mentioned in connection with toothstructure. Educators must know what these terms mean and their percentagesin hard tooth structures.
Organic means living and describes theg matrix (framework) of water, cells,fi bres and proteins, which make the tooth a living structure.
Inorganic means non-living and describes the mineral content of the tooth,gwhich gives it its strength. These minerals are complex calcium salts.
Table 1.3 shows the percentages of organic and inorganic matter in hardtooth structures.
Table 1.2 Secondary dentition (notation, approximate exfoliation/eruption dates and functions)
Tooth Notation
Approximate exfoliation/eruption date Function
First molars (6) 5–8 years Chewing
Lower central incisors (1) 7–8 years Biting
Upper central incisors (1) 7–8 years Biting
Lower lateral incisors (2) 7–10 years Biting
Upper lateral incisors (2) 7–10 years Biting
Lower canines (3) 9–14 years Tearing
First premolars (4) 9–13 years Chewing
Second premolars (5) 10–14 years Chewing
Upper canines (3) 9–14 years Tearing
Second molars (7) 10–14 years Chewing
Third molars (8) 17–24 years Chewing
Table 1.3 Percentages of organic and inorganic matter in hard tooth structures
Structure Inorganic Organic
Enamel 96% 4%
Dentine 70% 30%
Cementum 45% 55%
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It is also important to know the basic details about these three hard toothsubstances, and also pulp.
EnamelEnamel (Figure 1.9) is made up of prisms (crystals of hydroxyapatite) arranged vertically in a wavy pattern, which give it great strength. Theprisms, which resemble fi sh scales, are supported by a matrix of organicmaterial including keratinised (horny) cells and can be seen under an electron microscope.
Properties of enamelEnamel is:
● The hardest substance in the human body.● Brittle – it fractures when the underlying dentine is weakened by decay
(caries).● Insensitive to stimuli (e.g. hot, cold and sweet substances).● Darkens slightly with age – as secondary dentine is laid down and stains
from proteins in the diet, tannin-rich food and drinks and smoking areabsorbed.
Figure 1.9 Structure of the tooth (© Elsevier 2002. Reproduced with permission from Reference 1)
Cusp
Enamel
Dentine
Pulp cavity withnerves and vessels
Gingiva (gum)
Root canal
Periodontal ligament
Periodontal membrane
Cementum
Bone
Root
Neck
Crown
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Enamel is also subject to four types of wear and tear (see Chapter 6). The educator needs to be aware of these and able to differentiate between them:
1. Erosion – usually seen on palatal andl lingual (next to palate and tongue) lsurfaces.
2. Abrasion – usually seen on cervical (outer neck of tooth) surfaces.l3. Attrition – natural wear often seen on occlusal (biting) surfaces.l4. Abfraction – notching of the enamel close to, or beneath theg gingival margin
(gum line).
DentineDentine constitutes the main bulk of the tooth (Figure 1.9) and consists of mil-lions of microscopic tubules (fi ne tubes), running in a curved pattern from the pulp to the enamel on the crown and the cementum on the root.
Properties of dentineDentine is:
● Softer than enamel, but harder than cementum and bone.● Light yellow in colour.● Sensitive to stimuli (e.g. hot, cold and sweet substances). Reasons for this
sensitivity are not fully understood, but it usually lessens with age.
Dentine also changes throughout life. After a tooth is fully developed, more dentine is laid down and is known as secondary dentine.
CementumCementum covers the surface of the root (Figure 1.9) and provides an attach-ment for the periodontal ligament. The fi bres of the ligament are fi xed in the cementum and in the alveolar bone (see supporting structures of the tooth).
Properties of cementumCementum is of similar hardness to bone and thickens throughout life tocounteract wear and tear caused by chewing and movement.
PulpPulp is a soft living tissue within the pulp chamber and root canal of the tooth (Figure 1.9). It consists of blood vessels, nerves, fi bres and cells.
Properties of pulpThe pulp chamber shrinks with age as more secondary dentine is laid down, so that the tooth becomes less vulnerable to damage.
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Supporting structures of the tooth
The periodontium (Figure 1.10) is the collective name for the supporting structures of the tooth.
It comprises:
● Periodontal ligament.● Cementum (part of the tooth and supporting structure).● Alveolar bone. This develops as the tooth erupts forming the alveolus of the
mandible and maxilla.● Gingivae (gums).
The periodontal l igamentThe periodontal ligament is a connective tissue that holds the tooth in placein the alveolar bone (assisted by cementum). The ligament is between 0.1 and 0.3 mm wide and contains blood vessels, nerves, cells and collagen fi bres [5].
The collagen fi bres attach the tooth to the alveolar bone and run in different directions, which provide strength and fl exibility and act as a shock absorberfor the tooth; teeth need to move slightly in their sockets in order to withstand
Gingiva
Periodontal ligament
Cementum
Alveolar bone
Figure 1.10 The periodontium (© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003. Reproduced with permission from Reference 4)
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the pressures of mastication (chewing). Imagine what it would feel like to bitehard with teeth rigidly cemented into bone.
CementumSee ‘Structure of the tooth’.
Alveolar bone (also known as the alveolar ridge)Alveolar bones are horseshoe-shaped projections of thed maxilla (upper jaw)and mandible (lower jaw). They provide an attachment for the fi bres of theperiodontal ligament, sockets for the teeth and support the teeth by absorbingand distributing occlusal forces.
GingivaeThe gingivae (gums) consist of mucous membranes and underlying fi broustissue, covering the alveolar bone.
Gingivae are divided into four sections (Figure 1.11):
1. Attached gingiva – a fi rm, pale pink, stippled gum tightly attached to theunderlying alveolar bone. It is keratinised (d hard and fi rm-like horn) to with-stand the friction of chewing. Its orange-peel appearance (known as stip-pling) comes from tightly packed bundles of collagen fi bres that attach it tothe bone. Loss of stippling is one of the signs of gingivitis (see Chapter 3).
Mucogingivaljunction
Attached gingiva
Vestibularmucosa
Freegingiva
Vestibularmucosa
Mucogingivaljunction
Gingivalcrest
Interdentalpapilla
Free gingivalgroove
Figure 1.11 Gingivae (© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003. Reproduced with permission fromReference 2)
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2. Free gingiva – where the gum meets the tooth. It is less tightly attached andnot stippled. It is also keratinised and contoured to form little points of gum between teeth – the interdental papillae. The indentation between attachedand free gingiva is called the free gingival groove.
3. Gingival crest – the edge of the gum and interdental papillae bordering the ttooth. Behind the crest is the gingival sulcus (or crevice), which is not more than 2 mm in depth [5]. This base of the crevice is lined with a layer of cells called the junctional epithelium, which attaches the gum to the tooth. When this epithelium breaks down, in disease, periodontal ligament fi bresare exposed to bacterial enzymes and toxins. As these fi bres break down, a periodontal pocket is formed.t
4. Mucogingival junction – the meeting point of the keratinised attached gin-giva and the non-keratinised vestibular mucosa (soft, dark red tissue, which lines the inside of lips, cheeks and the fl oor of the mouth).
THE TONGUE AND THE FLOOR OF THE MOUTH
The tongue is a muscular, mobile organ which lies in the fl oor of the mouth,and comprises four surfaces:
1. Dorsal (upper) surface – covered by a thick, keratinised epithelium to with-lstand chewing and a large number of projections called papillae. These papillae contain taste buds. The dorsal surface is divided into two sections:– Anterior (front) two-thirds (against the palate).– Posterior (back) third (towards the pharynx).
2. Ventral (under) surface – covered by a thin mucous membrane. In the middle of the front section, the mucosa is divided by a sharp fold, whichjoins the tip of the tongue to the fl oor of the mouth (the lingual fraenum).
3. Tip – the pointed front, which can be protruded or moved around the mouth by muscular action. For a baby, the tip of the tongue is an important sensory organ, which explores and identifi es objects. It also acts as a great natural cleanser, removing food debris.
4. Root – the deep attachment of the tongue, which forms the anterior surfacetof the pharynx.
Muscles of the tongue
There are two groups of tongue muscles:
1. Intrinsic (inside) – which can alter its shape.2. Extrinsic (outside) – which move the tongue and help alter its shape.
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Functions of the tongue
The main functions of the tongue are:
● Taste.● Mastication (chewing).● Deglutition (swallowing).● Speech.● Cleansing.● Protection.
TasteThe tongue (and other parts of the oral cavity) is covered with taste buds thatallow us to distinguish between sweet, sour, salt, bitter and umami (savoury) tastes. An adult has approximately 9000 taste buds [5], which are mainly situ-ated on the upper surface of the tongue (there are also some on the palate andeven on the throat).
MasticationThe tongue helps pass a soft mass of chewed food (bolus) along its dorsal surface and presses it against the hard palate.
Degluti t ionThe tongue helps pass the bolus towards the entrance of the oesophagus.
SpeechTongue movement plays a major part in the production of different sounds.
Natural cleansingTongue muscles allow for tremendous movement, and the tongue can help remove food particles from all areas of the mouth (mainly using the tip).
ProtectionThe tongue moves saliva (which has an antibacterial property) around the oralcavity.
Conditions affecting the tongue
The following conditions affect the tongue (see also Chapter 8):
● Glossitis (infl ammation of the tongue) – a symptom of conditions such as dry mouth, infections, injury from a burn, irritants, vitamin B12 defi ciency, skin conditions (e.g. lichen planus) or an allergic reaction. The underlying cause needs to be treated.
● Soreness of the tongue, which may be due to a variety of reasons, including anaemia, vitamin B defi ciency and hormonal imbalance.
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● Black hairy tongue – due to overgrowth of tongue papillae, stained bychromogenic bacteria, medication (e.g. chlorhexidine) or smoking. Looks alarming, but is not serious.
● Geographic tongue (Figure 1.12) – also known as migratory glossitis – smooth ‘map-like’ irregular areas on the dorsal surface, which come and go. Harmless, but sometimes sore and often runs in families [5].
Piercing of the tongue can also cause problems and the educator should beable to advise patients on this matter (see Chapter 6). Tongue cleansing is also back in vogue, due to an increased awareness of halitosis, and tongue cleansers (e.g. TePe®) can help with this condition.
The floor of the mouth
The educator must know that the fl oor of the mouth consists of a muscle called the mylohyoid and associated structures.d
SALIVA
Incredible stuff, saliva! It is often taken for granted, and patients only realise how vital it is to the well-being of the oral cavity and the whole body, when its fl ow is diminished.
Figure 1.12 Geographic tongue (source: Alison Chapman)
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Saliva is secreted by three major and numerous minor salivary glands. The minor glands are found in the lining of the oral cavity; on the inside of the lips, the cheeks, the palate and even the pharynx.
Major salivary glands
The three major salivary glands (Figure 1.13) are as follows:
1. Parotid gland – situated in front of the ear. It is the largest salivary gland anddproduces 25% of the total volume of saliva [5]. It produces serous (watery) saliva, which is transported into the oral cavity by the parotid duct, which opens above the upper molars. The parotid gland swells during mumps (parotitis).
2. Submandibular gland – situated beneath thed mylohyoid muscle towards the dbase of the mandible. It is the middle of the three glands, in both size and position, and produces a mixture of serous and mucous saliva. It accounts for around 70% of total saliva and opens via the submandibular duct onthe fl oor of the mouth [5]. When dental nurses assist the dentist, they may occasionally notice a small ‘fountain’ as the saliva appears from this duct (which can also happenwhen yawning).
Sublingual gland
Submandibular gland
Parotid gland
Figure 1.13 Major salivary glands (© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Reproduced with permission from Reference 6)
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3. Sublingual gland – is also situated beneath the anterior fl oor of the mouthdunder the front of the tongue. It produces 5% of total saliva [5], mainly in the form of mucous which drains through numerous small ducts on the ridge of the sublingual fold (the section of fraenum beneath the anterior of tongue).d
Composition of saliva
Saliva is made up of 99.5% water and 0.5% dissolved substances, althoughthe composition varies between individuals [5].
Dissolved substances include:
● Mucins – these are glycoproteins that give saliva its viscosity (stickiness),lubricate the oral tissues, and are the origin of the salivary pellicle (the stickyfi lm which forms on teeth within minutes of cleaning).
● Enzymes – there are many, but the OHE needs to remember only the main ones: salivary amylase (ptyalin), which converts starch into maltose and lysozyme; the latter attacks the cell walls of bacteria protecting the oral cavity from invading pathogens.
● Serum proteins – albumin and globulin (saliva is formed from serum, the watery basis of blood).
● Waste products – urea and uric acid.● Gases – oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in solution. The latter vaporises
when it enters the mouth and is given off as a gas.● Inorganic ions – including sodium, sulphate, potassium, calcium, phosphate
and chloride. The important ones to remember are calcium and phosphateions, which are concerned with remineralisation of the teeth after an acid attack and the development of calculus.
● Saliva also contains large numbers of microorganisms and remnants of foodsubstances.
Functions of saliva
There are eight main functions of saliva:
1. Aids mastication and deglutition – mucous helps form the food bolus.2. Oral hygiene – washing and antibacterial action helps control disease of the
oral cavity. Lysozyme controls bacterial growth. This is why saliva is said tohave antibacterial properties and why animals instinctively lick their wounds.
3. Speech – a lubricant. For example, nervousness = production of adrenaline =reduction in saliva = dry mouth.
4. Taste – saliva dissolves substances and allows the taste buds to recognise taste.5. Helps maintain water balance (of body) – when water balance is low, saliva
is reduced, producing thirst.
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6. Excretion – trace amounts of urea and uric acid (a minor role in total bodyexcretion).
7. Digestion – salivary amylase begins the breakdown of cooked starch (a rela-tively minor role in the whole digestive process, but important in relation to sucrose intake and oral disease).
8. Buffering action – helps maintain the neutral pH of the mouth. Thebicarbonate ion is vital to the health of the mouth as it is concerned with the buffering action of saliva. The resting pH of the mouth (when no food has just been consumed) is around 6.8. This is neutral, neither acid nor alkaline. (pH is a symbol used to indicate measurement of acidity or alkalinity of substances or liquids, and stands for the German term potenz Hydrogen.)
Facts about saliva
Here are some general points of interest about saliva:
● More is secreted when required (refl ex action).● Composition varies according to what is being eaten (e.g. more mucous with
meat).● Average amount produced daily by adults is 0.5–1 L. Certain medical condi-
tions and disabilities cause the overproduction of saliva, resulting in drib-bling (e.g. patients with Down’s syndrome and Parkinson’s disease, andfungal infections such as angular cheilitis – see Chapter 8).
● Flow almost ceases during sleep.● Saliva is sterile until it enters the mouth.● Saliva tests can be used to solve crimes, since saliva contains deoxyribo-
nucleic acid (DNA) which can be used to help identify individuals. Dentaldcompanies sell saliva test kits, which can be used by OHEs to demonstratesaliva pH to patients.
Other additives within the mouth
Although saliva entering the mouth is sterile, it soon loses this property as itcollects organic materials that are already present, including:
● Microorganisms: bacteria (mainly streptococci), viruses (e.g. herpes simplex),and fungi (e.g. Candida albicans).
● Leucocytes (white blood cells) which fi ght infection. Not present in edentu-lous (toothless) babies or in saliva collected from the duct, so presumed tocome from gingival crevice after teeth erupt.
● Dietary substances (meal remains).
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1. Thibodeau, G.A. & Patton, K.T. (2002) Anatomy and Physiology, 5th edn. Mosby, Missouri.
2. Lang, N.P., Mombelli, A. & Attström, R. (2003) Dental plaque and calculus. In: Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry (eds. J. Lindhe, T. Karring & N.P.Lang), 4th edn, pp. 81–105. Blackwell Munksgaard, Oxford.
3. Phillips, S. (2012) Oral embryology, histology and anatomy. In: Clinical Textbook of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (ed. S.L. Noble), 2nd edn, pp. 3–5. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford.
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